Ekiti supplementary poll: INEC pledges fairness, neutrality

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has pledged neutrality and fairness in the conduct of the supplementary election for Ekiti East constituency 1.

The electoral body said the election will hold Saturday, March 23 in five polling units in the constituency, in line with the directive of the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu.

The election was suspended by INEC on March 9, when the House of Assembly and Governorship elections were held across the country, with results in other 25 constituencies already declared .

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti Dr Muslim Omoleke revealed that INEC would meet with security agencies and brief them on the need to be prepared for the conduct of the election.

Omoleke said the Commission decided to suspend elections in the polling units, thereby making the outcome inconclusive, in line with its vow to be neutral and fair to all contenders in any election.

“We are prepared for the election and we won’t deviate from the practice of fairness and neutrality to all political parties,” Omoleke said.

“We will meet the security agencies this week and brief them on how the conduct will look like, so they can plan their own strategies on how to deliver a free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

“We have received materials from the headquarters and they are being kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, the materials are under safe custody.

“We want to assure our voters that we won’t let them down. Let them come out massively and vote and we assure that their votes will count.

“INEC did not disappoint in the conduct of the Presidential and State and National Assembly elections in Ekiti, this also will not be an exemption,” Omoleke assured.

In the election, the battle will be between Mr Juwa Adegbuyi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the occupant of the seat and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ojo-Ade Fajana.